Stories of Working Mothers from Around the World (Tues is last day 4 a raffle ticket 4 Mom's Day)

Raffle tickets here: https://secure.ga6.org/08/mothersdayraffle09

TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO PURCHASE A MOTHER'S DAY RAFFLE TICKET, proceeds of which go to benefit ILRF's Fairness in Flowers campaign!

Remember, you can win roses that were produced on farms with strong labor standards for your mom AND help flower workers around the world!

Last week, we brought you the story of Amanda, a Colombian flower worker who finally decided to act because she could no longer stand the humiliation that she was forced to suffer on the job, and explained how a simple purchase of ILRF's Mother's Day raffle can help female workers like Amanda fight for their rights at work. Unfortunately, Amanda is not alone in her struggle.

Women around the world overwhelmingly occupy the lowest paid and most unstable jobs. Such job opportunities for female workers in developing nations often fail to support a decent way of life for women and their families. This has often been a result of the current free trade model that encourages corporations to exploit weak labor laws. This week, in light of Mother's Day, ILRF will be featuring extraordinary working mothers who are trying to make a difference in their workplaces on our website and blog each day. Here is a short preview of the stories ILRF has collected from partners around the world:

Rosemary, Peruvian Mother and Temporary Fruit/Vegetable Farm Worker: "They fired me for being pregnant. I know other companies where women have lost their babies because they were lifting something heavy, fell and kept working for fear of being fired. The company didn't give us food and we couldn't bring food so we all had to buy something inside, including water. Sometimes my co-workers didn't eat or drink water in order to save money."

Ana, Filipina Mother and Sewing Machine Operator: "My salary does not cover my expenses, the workload is not always fair and men are always promoted ahead of women. I am in the process of organizing a union but I am met with constant resistance and threats that management will close down the factory."

Nasreen, Pakistani Mother and Soccer Ball Stitcher: "Sometimes I have no money to cook food. Food and clothes are very expensive and when my children need them, I cannot fulfill their wishes and it upsets me greatly... I faced more difficulty when I couldn't pay their school fees. Due to this, my children were treated badly and dishonored in school."

Moni, Bangladeshi Mother and Sewing Machine Operator "During the first four months of my pregnancy, management would shout at me for needing to use the bathroom. They used obscene language and threatened to fire me."

Support female workers like Rosemary, Ana, Nasreen, Moni and Amanda by purchasing a Mother's Day raffle ticket. Show them that they are not alone this Mother's Day, and that fairness can be achieved in the workplace!

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for International Labor Rights Forum.